Spiritan Magazine

Volume 40 Number 3 Summer Article 6

Summer 2016

World Youth Day 2016 ( Francis)

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Recommended Citation (2016). 2016 (). Spiritan Magazine, 40 (3). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/spiritan-tc/vol40/iss3/6

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Spiritan Collection at Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Spiritan Magazine by an authorized editor of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. World Youth Day 2016 – Final esus wants to draw near to us per - sonally, to accompany our journey to its end, so that his life and our Jlife can truly meet. In today’s an amazing encounter takes place with Zacchaeus, the chief “publi - can” or tax collector, a wealthy collabo - Facing rator of the hated Roman occupiers, someone who exploited his own people, someone who, because of his ill repute, could not even approach the Master. His encounter with Jesus changed his life, just as it has changed, and can daily Obstacles still change, each of our lives. to Meet Jesus Pope Francis

12 | Summer 2016 | Spiritan But Zacchaeus had to face a number the clothes you wear or the kind of cell figure, a man of power. He knew that, of obstacles in order to meet Jesus. phone you use are of absolutely no in trying to climb that tree, he would At least three of these can also say concern. He doesn’t care whether you have become a laughingstock to all. Yet something to us. are stylish or not; he cares about you! he mastered his shame, because the at - traction of Jesus was more powerful. The first obstacle The second obstacle The paralysis of shame did not have Zacchaeus couldn’t see the Master be - Zacchaeus risked becoming a laughing - the upper hand. The Gospel tells us that cause he was a small man. Even today stock. We can imagine what was going Zacchaeus “ran ahead”, “climbed” the we can risk not getting close to Jesus on in his heart before he climbed that tree, and then, when Jesus called him, because we don’t feel big enough, be - sycamore. It must have been quite a he “hurried down”. He took a risk. cause we don’t think ourselves worthy. struggle — on one hand, a healthy cu - He put his life on the line. For us too, This is a great temptation. riosity and desire to know Jesus; on the this is the secret of joy: not to stifle God counts on you for what you are, other, the risk of appearing completely a healthy curiosity, but to take a risk, not for what you possess. In his eyes ridiculous. Zacchaeus was a public because life is not meant to be tucked

Spiritan | Summer 2016 | 13 away. When it comes to Jesus, we At times in our lives, we aim lower weaknesses, your struggles and your cannot sit around waiting with arms rather than higher. At those times, it is sins. He will surprise you with his for - folded; he offers us life — we can’t re - good to realize that God remains - giveness and his peace. spond by thinking about it or “texting” ful, even obstinate, in his love for us. a few words! The fact is, he loves us even more than The third obstacle You know what happens when some - we love ourselves. He believes in us There was a third obstacle that Zacchaeus one is so attractive that we fall in love even more than we believe in ourselves. had to face. It was no longer an interior one, but was all around him. It was the grumbling of the crowd, who first Jesus wants to enter your homes, to dwell in your blocked him and then criticized him: How could Jesus have entered his daily lives: in your studies, your first years of work, house, the house of a sinner! your friendships and affections, your hopes and dreams. Finally let us li